Each time Leslie McDonald made a play on Tuesday night in the Greater N.C. Pro-Am, the public address announcer at N.C. Central said, "It's gotta be the shoes." McDonald wore a pair of yellow Nikes. They were new, he said. PHOTO: Robert Willett

DURHAM — I wasn’t around to see it, and wasn’t covering North Carolina then but, by all accounts, Leslie McDonald was having a nice summer last year in the Greater N.C. Pro-Am, the summer league at N.C. Central comprised of local college and professional standouts past and present.

North Carolina and UAB have agreed to play a three-year basketball series, beginning with a game this season at the Smith Center.

Larry Gallo, the senior associate athletic director who handles the men’s basketball schedule at UNC, said on Tuesday that dates have not been finalized and that the two schools are still completing contractual details of the series.

Former North Carolina forward John Henson (right) was the third North Carolina player selected in the NBA draft on Thursday night. Henson went at No. 14 to Milwaukee while Tyler Zeller (left) was selected three picks later. PHOTO: Robert Willett

NEWARK, N.J. — If he was still available by pick No. 14 in the NBA draft, John Henson said he knew the Milwaukee Bucks would select him there. Henson was right.

The Bucks took Henson, the former North Carolina forward, with the 14th pick in the draft. Henson became the third Tar Heels player to be selected on Thursday night, behind Harrison Barnes (No. 7 to Golden State) and Kendall Marshall (No. 13 to Phoenix).

Here’s what Henson had to say after being drafted: 

The Golden State Warriors selected Harrison Barnes seventh overall on Thursday night in the NBA draft. PHOTO: Chuck Liddy

NEWARK, N.J. — Harrison Barnes had to wait a little while. But the moment he’d been waiting for came on Thursday night when the Golden State Warriors selected him with the seventh pick in the NBA draft.

To find a North Carolina player drafted higher than Barnes, you’d have to go back to 2005, when Marvin Williams went second overall and Raymond Felton fifth. Here’s what Barnes had to say after he was drafted:

Tyler Zeller (left) and John Henson (right) will join Harrison Barnes and Kendall Marshall in the first round of the NBA draft tonight. The only questino is where the Tar Heels foursome will be selected. PHOTO: Robert Willett

NEWARK, N.J. — Welcome to the NBA draft. It’ll start in just about an hour or so. Then, of course, we’ll learn where North Carolina prospects Harrison Barnes, John Henson, Kendall Marshall and Tyler Zeller will be selected.

Will the foursome replicate – or even beat – the Tar Heels’ 2005 draft class? Four UNC players that year – Raymond Felton, Sean May, Rashad McCants and Marvin Williams – were selected among the top 14 picks. There’s a chance that the current group of Tar Heels matches that feat. Stay tuned.

In the meantime, if you haven’t already, be sure to check out the story I wrote that ran today about how UNC’s players are embracing their new beginning. Without the enormous expectations that surrounded them throughout last season at UNC, the three players here – Barnes, Henson and Zeller – seem more relaxed. The pressure is off.

And after you’re checking that out, here’s some bonus material: Barnes, Henson and Zeller on a variety of topics as they embark on the start of their professional careers …

Harrison Barnes, John Henson, Kendall Marshall and Tyler Zeller (not pictured) are all expected to be first-round picks in the NBA draft. But where? PHOTO: Robert Willett

NEW YORK — Welcome to New York. I’m coming at you live from the Westin in Times Square where, in less than hour, we’ll begin hearing from the 14 players who were invited to attend the NBA draft. Among them: North Carolina’s Harrison Barnes, John Henson and Tyler Zeller, all of whom are projected to be draft lottery picks.

Kendall Marshall, by the way, is not here. Though no one would be surprised if he wound up being a lottery pick as well when the draft commences on Thursday night at 7:30.

Between now and the start of the draft, there’s likely to be a good amount of speculation, rumors and guesses about which players is headed where. Outside of Anthony Davis, the former Kentucky freshman who’s a lock to be the No. 1 pick, this draft appears as wide open as any in recent memory.

UNC sophomore James Michael McAdoo will team up with Sean May and Marvin Williams in the Greater N.C. Pro-Am at N.C. Central. PHOTO: Ethan Hyman

At long last, the rosters are up. Originally scheduled to be posted late last week, the teams in the Greater N.C. Pro-Am have been set. Six current North Carolina players – and eight former Tar Heels – are among the eight teams in the pro-am, which begins play later this week at N.C. Central.

Here’s a look at North Carolina players, by the team:

The UNC football team's 2010-11 APR fell below 900. PHOTO: Robert Willett 

CHAPEL HILL — North Carolina’s men’s basketball and football teams rank at the bottom of the school’s men’s sports in the latest Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores that the NCAA released on Wednesday.

James Michael McAdoo (center) and the Tar Heels will begin ACC play next season at Virginia. PHOTO: Robert Willett

The ACC portion of North Carolina’s 2012-13 basketball schedule has been released. Sort of.

We don’t yet know the final dates of the Tar Heels’ conference games – and won’t until the complete schedule is released later this summer – but at least we know the order in which UNC will play its league opponents.

UNC earlier today released the order of its ACC schedule, and a range of dates on which games will be played. Valentine’s Day night in Cameron Indoor Stadium is a possibility for the Tar Heels, as is a home game against Virginia Tech on Super Bowl Sunday.

So without further delay, the order of UNC’s 2012-13 ACC schedule:

After a strong end to his freshman season, UNC sophomore James Michael McAdoo expects greater things next season. PHOTO: Ethan Hyman

CHAPEL HILL — Six months ago the questions that surrounded James Michael McAdoo sounded like this:

--Why does he appear so timid?
--What happened to the confidence of a player many thought to be among the best prospects in the nation?
--When will he emerge to become a reliable force for North Carolina?

Now the questions that surround McAdoo sound like this:

--Is he ready to become a leader for the Tar Heels?
--Can he begin his sophomore season the way he ended his freshman season?

McAdoo, the UNC forward, has completely transformed himself during the past six months. And now, on a team that lost its top four players, he says he’s ready to take on an even larger role. That’s the crux of a story I wrote here.